Myrsidea ivanliteraki Sychra, Kolencik & Palma, new species

Myrsidea ivanliteraki Sychra, Kolencik & Palma new species

Figs 1–6, 14–16, 25–26.

Myrsidea sp.; Pilgrim & Palma 1982: 28. Myrsidea sp.; Murray et al. 2006: 1957. Myrsidea sp.; Palma 2010: 408.

Type host. Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) —Australian magpie (Artamidae)

Type locality. Little Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.

Diagnosis. Myrsidea ivanliteraki is morphologically close to Myrsidea vincula (compare habitus of females: Figs 1 and 7; hypopharyngeal sclerites: Figs 2 and 8; male genitalia and genital sac sclerite: Figs 15–18; habitus of females: Figs 23 and 25; habitus of males: Figs 24 and 26), but they differ in the following features of both sexes: (1) ratio of dorsal head setae (DHS) 10/11: 0.91–1.30 (0.64–0.92 in M. vincula); (2) first tibia with 23–35 dorsolateral setae (11–17 in M. vincula); (3) pleurite II with one conspicuously long seta on its inner dorsal side (only short setae in M. vincula). Furthermore, females of these species differ in the number of some abdominal setae, as follows: tergite I with 10–15 setae in M. ivanliteraki (6–9 in M. vincula); female sternite III with 58–94 setae (37– 43 in M. vincula); female sternites IV–V each with 77–113 setae (54–73 in M. vincula). Males differ in the number of setae on sternite III: 45–73 in M. ivanliteraki (36 in M. vincula), and sternite IV: 68–95 (59 in M. vincula).

Description. Female (n = 33). As in Figs 1 and 25. Hypopharyngeal sclerites well developed (Fig. 2). Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.113–0.150; DHS 11, 0.108–0.160; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.91–1.30. Labial setae 5 (ls5) 0.09–0.13 long, latero-ventral fringe with 15–18 setae. Gula with 6–11 setae on each side, most frequently 7–9. Pronotum with 8 setae on posterior margin and 3 short spiniform setae at each lateral corner. Prosternal plate as in Fig. 3. First tibia with 3 outer ventro-lateral and 23–35 dorso-lateral setae (Fig. 4). Metanotum not enlarged, with 5–8 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 12–21 setae; metapleurites with 3–6 short strong spiniform setae and 1 long seta. Femur III with 5 2–68 setae in ventral setal brush. Tergites not enlarged, all with straight posterior margin. Abdominal segments with well-defined median gap in each row of tergal setae. Tergal setae: I, 8–13; II, 9– 14; III, 9–15; IV, 10–15; V, 9–15; VI, 5–10; VII, 4–6; VIII, 4. Postspiracular setae of variable length on II, III, IV, VI, VII and VIII (0.51–0.70), shorter on average on I and V (0.25–0.55). Inner posterior seta of last tergite not longer than anal fringe setae with length 0.06–0.10; length of short lateral marginal seta of last segment, 0.04–0.05. Pleural posterior setae: I, 5–8; II, 6–10; III, 7–12; IV, 8–14; V, 8–12; VI, 6–10; VII, 4–6; VIII, 3. Pleural anterior setae: II, 0–1 (30 females without setae); III, 1–3; IV, 1–5; V, 2–5; VI, 1–4; VII, 0–1. Pleurites I–VII with additional slender and longer setae: I, 0–1 (29 females without setae); II, 1–2; III, 4–10; IV, 3–8; V, 4–8; VI, 1–8; VII, 2–6; pleurite II one conspicuously long seta on inner dorsal angle. Inner setae on pleurite VIII (0.19–0.36) four times as long as outer setae (0.05–0.10). Anterior margin of sternal plate II conspicuously pigmented, with a medial notch (Figs 6, 25). Sternal setae: I, 0 (five females with one seta); II, 2–5 in each aster—aster setae length: s1, 0.05–0.09; s2, 0.04–0.07; s3, 0.04–0.06; s4, 0.02–0.04; s5, 0.03—with 16–23 marginal setae between asters, and 16–24 medioanterior setae; III, 58–94 marginal setae (4–14 medioanterior setae); IV, 78–113 (1–8); V, 77–113 (1–5); VI, 45–73 (0–3); VII, 10–19 (0–2); VIII–IX, 13–22; and 11–18 setae on deeply serrated vulvar margin. Subvulval sclerite (sternite IX) clearly visible (Fig. 1, 25). Anal fringe formed by 51–61 dorsal and 41–50 ventral setae. Dimensions: TW, 0.64–0.70; POW, 0.47–0.49; HL, 0.38–0.41; PW, 0.38–0.43; MW, 0.63–0.72; AW, 0.90–1.10; ANW, 0.33–0.36; TL, 2.21–2.53.

Male (n = 31). As in Fig. 26. Hypopharyngeal sclerites well developed (Fig. 2). Length of dorsal head seta (DHS) 10, 0.105–1.480; DHS 11, 0.108–1.430; ratio DHS 10/11, 0.94–1.20. Labial setae 5 (ls 5) 0.08–0.11 long, latero-ventral fringe with 15–18 setae. Gula with 5–10 setae on each side. Pronotum with 8–9 setae on posterior margin and 3 short spiniform setae at each lateral corner. Prosternal plate as in Fig. 5. First tibia with 3 outer ventro-lateral and 25–34 dorso-lateral setae. Metanotum not enlarged with 4–7 marginal setae; metasternal plate with 13–21 setae; metapleurites with 2–6 short spiniform strong setae and 1 long seta. Femur III with 45–62 setae in ventral setal brush. Abdominal segments with well-defined median gap in each row of tergal setae. Tergal setae: I, 4–9; II, 6–11; III, 7–11; IV, 7–12; V, 6–11; VI, 4–8; VII, 4–6; VIII, 4; with 3–5 dorsal anal setae. Postspiracular setae of variable length on I–IV and VI–VIII (0.41–0.73), and shorter on V (0.27–0.45). Length of inner posterior seta of last tergite, 0.05–0.13; short lateral marginal seta of last segment, 0.02–0.03. Pleural setae: I, 4–7; II, 5–8; III, 6–10; IV, 6–9; V, 5–9; VI, 5–8; VII, 4–6; VIII, 3. Pleurites II–VII with slender and longer setae (pleurite II with one conspicuously long seta on inner dorsal side): I, 0–1; II, 1–3; III, 2–6; IV, 3–6; V, 2–5; VI, 1–5; VII, 1–3; pleurites III–VII with anterior setae: III, 0–1; IV, 0–1; V, 1–2; VI, 0–3; VII, 0–1. Pleurite VIII with inner setae (0.19–0.34) five times as long as outer (0.04–0.06). Anterior margin of sternal plate II conspicuously pigmented, with a medial notch (Figs 6, 26). Sternal setae: I, 0 (one male with one seta); II, 2–4 in each aster (Fig. 6) – aster setae length: s1, 0.05–0.08; s2, 0.04–0.07; s3 and s4, 0.03–0.05—with 13–20 marginal setae between asters, and 8– 17 medioanterior setae; III, 45–73 marginal setae (2–13 medioanterior setae); IV, 68–95 (1–11); V, 71–99 (1–10); VI, 47–70 (0–5); VII, 15–27 (0–3); VIII, 18–30 (1–4) (Fig. 14). With 8–10 short internal anal setae (Fig. 14). Genitalia and genital sac sclerite as in Figs 15–16, respectively; inner posterior arms of basal plate rounded (see Clay 1968: 207). Dimensions: TW, 0.60–0.65; POW, 0.43–0.46; HL, 0.36–0.39; PW, 0.36–0.39; MW, 0.53–0.59; AW, 0.7–0.8; GW, 0.14–0.16; GL, 0.27–0.35; ParL, 0.06; GSL, 0.10–0.12; TL, 1.85–2.20.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr Ivan Literák (University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic) for his contributions to Phthiraptera taxonomy and his support to the senior author over many years.

Type material. Ex Gymnorhina tibicen: Holotype ♀, Little Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf, N.Z., 24 Apr. 1976, C.R. Veitch (MONZ AI.016992). Paratypes: 1♂, 3♀, same data as for the holotype (MONZ AI.016990); 5♂, 6♀, Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne, N.Z., 10 Dec. 1973, M. Williams (MONZ AI.016987); 9♂, 9♀, Ohingaiti, N.Z., 2 Oct. 1977, R.L. Palma (MONZ AI.016989); 6♂, 6♀, Titahi Bay, Wellington, N.Z., 10 Oct. 1977, T.P. Fisher (MONZ AI.016988); 24♂, 24♀, Opunake, Taranaki, N.Z., Nov. 1984, F. Chambers (MONZ AI.016991; MMBC).

Additional material examined (non-types). Ex Gymnorhina tibicen: 3♀, Benalla, Victoria, Australia, 28 Aug. 1974, J.M. Hughes (MONZ AI.016995); 1♀, Euroa, Victoria, Australia, 18 Sep. 1974, J.M. Hughes (MONZ AI.016996); 2♀, Kilmore, Victoria, Australia, 19 Sep. 1974, J.M. Hughes (MONZ AI.016997); 1♀, Queensland, Australia, Jul. 1975, J.M. Hughes (MONZ AI.016998).

Remarks. The New Zealand magpie population originated from Australian stock introduced in the 1860s and included two forms, the black-backed and the white-backed magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen tibicen and Gymnorhina tibicen hypoleuca (Gould, 1837) respectively). However, these two forms have widely interbred in New Zealand and are now regarded as a single taxonomic entity at species level (Checklist Committee 2010: 296). Most of our material examined of M. ivanliteraki originated from birds collected in New Zealand, but we have also examined a few females from Australia, thus confirming the presence of this louse in the native population of the host. Considering the current recognition of many subspecies of Gymnorhina tibicen in Australia, and with extensive zones of hybridisation among them (Schodde & Mason 1999), it is not possible to determine the subspecies of the individual hosts which carried the specimens of M. ivanliteraki listed above.